State politicians hear county's 'wish list'

Commissioners ask Georgia to pony up for funding state inmates awaiting sentencing.

Posted: Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Over hot lunch and sweet tea on Wednesday, Chatham County commissioners pitched their legislative agenda to local state politicians.

The agenda, often referred to as a "wish list," is a compilation of requests that is reviewed by the Georgia General Assembly at the beginning of each year. It's a process counties across the state undergo each year to lobby for additional state funding.

Chatham's wish list included six items, one of which proposed that the state pitch in more than its current $20 per day to house a state prisoner at the county jail. It costs more than $55 per day to hold an inmate, local officials say. State reimbursements kick in only after a prisoner has been processed, which can take up to 30 days, said Commissioner David Gellatly.

"Sometimes they sit in that jail from 30 days up to three months," Gellatly said. "It becomes very expensive."

Last year, county taxpayers paid more than $2.5 million on state inmate expenses - which included dental and medical costs.

Each time a state prisoner requires medical attention, taxpayers foot the bill, said County Chairman Pete Liakakis.

"It could cost us $28,000 to pay for a medical treatment," Liakakis said during the meeting. "And we don't get reimbursed for that."

Rep. Day said inmate reimbursements are a problem statewide.

"Our jail is not a prison," he said. "Our jail is for people waiting to be sentenced."

Johnson said the delegation will "point out that it's been $20 for a long time."

"Certainly the state ought to do better," he said.

Commissioner Helen Stone told the local delegation that she was at the governor's office in Atlanta yesterday lobbying for reimbursement.

"They said they recognize the issue and want something to be done," she said, adding that good news is "they didn't throw me out on my ears saying that it won't be on the governor's budget."

Day complimented the board for supporting the county sheriff.

"I didn't realize how good of a sheriff we had until this year," Day said. "(Chatham's jail) is light-years ahead of others in the state."

Commissioners also want more state funding for treating the mentally ill, which would help alleviate the jail population.

The county officials also want the state to pay for expenses that are required by but not paid for by the state. They contend Chatham taxpayers pay more than $12 million in unfunded mandates annually.

The last item on the wish list was amending the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax to allow up to 10 percent of funds collected to be used to support facilities built with previous SPLOST dollars.

"Why keep putting a burden on taxpayers," Liakakis said.

Stephens said he has already drafted legislation for 5 percent of SPLOST to be used for repairs only. He said adding the term "operations," would probably "kill it."